Interludes

THE HANGOVER REPORT – The Joyce’s MERCE CUNNINGHAM CELEBRATION gives us a glimpse of the master’s game-changing vision

• By drediman
• April 21, 2019
• No Comments

The Washington Ballet dances “Duets” as part of the Joyce Theater’s “Merce Cunningham Celebration”.

2019 marks the centennial of Merce Cunningham, one of the most important choreographers in all of dance and an indisputably towering figure in twentieth century art. To celebrate this occasion and to commemorate Cunningham’s huge and hugely influential body of work, the Joyce Theater has assembled three very distinct dance companies to perform pieces – thankfully danced to live music – by the master. Collectively, the program successfully gave me a glimpse of Cunningham’s game-changing vision of dance.

The eclectic bill commenced with Compagnie CNDC-Angers/Robert Swinston’s presentation of “Suite for Five” (featuring a piano score by John Cage, Cunningham’s artistic and life partner), which exemplifies Cunningham at his most distilled. In essence, the dance is a calm mediation on pure movement and the act of dance itself. The celebration continued with Ballet West dancing “Summerspace”, a dynamic and synergistic meeting of choreography, music (Morton Feldman’s “IXION”), and visual art (sets and costumes by Robert Rauschenberg). The program ended with Washington Ballet’s rendition of “Duets” (danced to a Cage’s seductive electronic score), a hypnotic but exciting work for six couples.

Overall, the companies were very good, if a bit uneven. It was a particular pleasure to see the Washington Ballet again after a number of years. Now under the guidance of former American Ballet Theatre prima ballerina Julie Kent (the company was previously led by Balanchine muse Suzanne Farrell), the company has blossomed into a refined and confident group of stylish international dancers. As expected, the dancers of Compagnie CNDC-Angers/Robert Swinston were perhaps the most exemplary of the Cunningham style (Mr. Swinston was a former Cunningham dancer and the master’s longtime assistant). Unfortunately, the set of performers chosen by Ballet West – at least at the performance I attended – failed to capture the lightness and effervescence needed to pull off the classic “Summerspace”.

RECOMMENDED

MERCE CUNNINGHAM CELEBRATION
Dance
The Joyce Theater (program danced by Compagnie CNDC-Angers/Robert Swinston, Ballet West, and the Washington Ballet)
1 hour, 30 minutes
Through April 21